Tire for wheels.



J. C. EAKENS.

TIRE FOR WHEELS. `APPLICATION FILED nic. 9. 1914.

Patented. Jan. 29, 1918.

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TIRE FOR WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. 1914.

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TIRE FOR WHEELS.A APPUcATloN man Dsc. s. 1914.

ffnung JAMES C. EAKENS, OF GOLDEN, NEW MEXICO. Y

TIRE FOR WHEELS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

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Application led December 9, 1914. Serial No. $76,385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. EAKENS, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Golden, in the county of Santa Fe and State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tires for Wheels, of which the following is a speciication.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in tires for wheels and has for its object to provide a resilient tire having means Whereby pressure anywhere upon the tire casing will be distributed throughout the tire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire having a series of spring controlled levers whereby pressure upon any part of the tire may be distributed to all parts thereof.

With the above and other objects `in view which will hereinafter be more fully explained, 1 have invented the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of the improved tire,

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale, showingl in dotted lines the relation assumed by the parts when the tire is subjected to an abnormal pressure,

Figl 3 is a longitudinal section through the tire, spring 4 being omitted,

Fig. 4 isan enlarged sectional view taken on line A-A of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line B-B of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the device showing the same filled with oil,

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of intermediate stiiiening device of the tire casing, and

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the specification and in the various views in the drawings in which 1 indicates a resilient tire formed ofa chauneled rim 2 and a casing 3 which are held spaced apart byV a series ot' bowed springs 4 having their 'opposing ends pivoted to the pins 5 and 6 that are carried by the levers These levers are in turn pivoted to the pins 8. mounted in the bearings 9, integrally or otherwise connected to the plates 10 which are secured b v screw bolts 11, to the channel rim` 2. Also pivotally mounted j upon the pins 8 are levers 12 and 12a which are connected at their opposing ends by pins 13 and 14, upon the outer ends of which are mounted links 15 and 15a and a pair of links 16. The opposing ends of these latter links are/secured to the outer ends of said pins 5 and 6. Also pivotally mounted upon the pins 13 and 14 are links 17, 17, and a pair of links 17, the other ends of which are pivoted to a 'pair of relatively long links 18 and 18a, 19 and 19a. Springs 2O are bowed to conform to the arc of the periphery of the casing 3 and their ends 21 and 22 returned inwardly and curved to conform to the arc of the springs 4 and are seated between said springs 4 whereby a practically continuous peripheral surface is formed by said springs 4 and 20 upon vwhich said casing seats. The ends of the springs 20 are returned and are pivotally fixed to the bolts 13 and 14 carried by the links 15 and 16. Bowed springs 23 are provided to reinforce the springs 20, and have their ends connected to the pins 24 and 25. The ends 21 and 22 of the spring 2O are bent over the bars or pins 20a which may be held by solder or in any suitable manner, whereby said returned portions cannot be pressed fiat against the main portion of the spring at the bend 2()b thus lessening danger ot' the spring from breaking` at said bend.

'lheinner ends of the links 18 and 18, 19 'and 192L are pivoted to the ends 26LL and 27a of the links 26 and 27 by means of the pins 28, the other ends of said links 26 and 27 being pivotedby means of the pins 29 to the bearing members 30 which are mounted vupon the rim 2 by means of the bolts 81 links and levers be distributed throughout the entire circumference of the tire 1.

The casing` 3 is made preferably of rubber 34 in which 1s intermeshed a reinforcing` de vice 35. The opposing edges 36 and 37 of said easing are bent at right angles thereto and are secured to the side walls 38 and 39 of said channel rim 2 by means of bolts 40 which have heads 45 countersunk in the easing clamp rings 46 so they cannot be damaged by contact with anyoloject. The several sections of said casing are held Vtogether with rivets having outer vheads 42 which act as antiskiddingdevices and inner heads 43 which will Contact with the springs 4 and V48 in order to keep the partsthoroughly Xlubricated and also to preventtoo sudden action on the parts which will be controlled iii their movement by their necessary passage oit the lubricant from one part of the tire to another part thereof.

The stitfening device shown in Figs. 7

and 8 which may be inserted between the layers of ru-bberjor other suitable material 50 and 5l, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed 4of a plurality of sections 52 the feather edge portions 53 of which overlap the portions l54 of the adjacent sections and are held apart by resilient Wire mesh 55 in order that the treads will be veryresilient and give freely tov any unevenness on the road and also inorder that the members 52 may readily move over one another.

Having Vnow described my invention that which I claim to be new and desire to pro eure bv Letters Patent is l. The described device consisting of a pair of channel members, bearing members on the inner of said channel members, levers pivoted to said bearing members and springs connecting` said levers, said springs being arcuate and having loose bearing against said outer member, springs having returned ends intermediate of said first springs, the last springs mounted on said levers and bearing against said outer member, other bearing members alternating with said bearing members, links pivoted thereto, long links pivoted to said linksand short links pivotally connecting said long links and levers,

and'spring connecting the short links on one side 'of said lever to the short links on the other side of said lever.

2. A tire consisting of a pair of channel members, bearing members onthe inner of said channel members, levers pivoted thereto and arcuate spring; having intnrned ends mounted on said levers and bearing against the outer of said members, leaf springs intermediate of said iirst springs, the ends of which overlap the inturned ends or' the adjoining-springs, said last springs being con-v nected toadjacent levers.

3. A tire consisting of'a pair of channel Vmembers, bearing members on the inner of said channel members. levers pivot'ed thereto Vand arcuate springs having inturned ends mounted on said levers and bearing against', theV outer of said members, leaf springs intermediate of said iirst springs, the ends of which overlap the iii-turned ends of the ad the respective joining springs, said last springs being connected to adjacent levers, said first springs bearing upon said outer member, said outer member being Hexible, and said inner member being inflexible.

4. Av tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, spaced levers pivoted to the rim member, bowed springs interposed between the levers for supporting the outer member and each connected at its ends to the opposing ends ot' adjacent levers, other bowed springs for supporting the outer member alternating with the first springs and each arranged outwardly of a respective lever with its ends connected to the ends of the latter.

5. A tire comprising a rim member, au encircling outer member, spaced levers pivoted to the rim member. bowed springs interposed between the levers for supporting the outer member 'and each connected at its ends Vto the opposing ends of adjacent levers, other bowed springs for supporting the outer member alternating with the first springs and each arranged outwardly of a respective lever and extended circumferentially beyond the oppesite ends thereof, the ends of each of the second springs being returned and connected to the opposite ends ot the respective lever.

6. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality of levers each pivoted between its ends on the rim member, and a bowed spring for each lever arranged outwardly thereof with its ends extended circumterentially beyond the ends of the lever and returned tor securement to the latter.

7. A tire comprising a rim member` au encircling outer member, a plurality of bowed springs for supportiiio` the outer member, and a. lever for each spring rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring secured thereto.

8. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality of bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring rock: bly carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends ot spring secured thereto, and means resiliently joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers.

9. A tire comprising a rim member, an en` circling outer member, a plurality ott bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring rockably carried by the rim member and havin the opposite ends ot the respective spring secured thereto, and outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers.

l0. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality ci: bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring rockably neaiia carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring secured thereto, outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers, and link means also connecting the opposing ends of adjacent levers.

11. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality of bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever :tor each spring rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring secured thereto, outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers, a plurality of bearing members alternately arranged with the levers, and a link connecting each end of the levers to the adjacent bearing member.

A12. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality ot' bowed springs tor supporting the outer member, a. lever for each spring rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring' secured there to, outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers, a plurality of bearing members alternately ar-V ranged with the levers, a link connecting each end of the levers to the adjacent bearing member, and a spring arranged within each adjacent links.

13. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality of bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring' rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring secured thereto, outer member supporting springs oining the opposing ends of adjacent levers, a plurality of bearing members alternately arranged with the levers, a. link connecting cach end of the levers to the adjacent bearing member, and spring means supporting the outer member radially of each lever and connecting the ends of the links that are connected to the respective lever.

14, A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer' member, a plurality of bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite ends of the respective spring secured thereto, outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends of adjacent levers. a plurality ot' bearing members alternately arranged with the levers, a link pivoted to each bearing member for swinging, and means connecting each end of the levers to the adjacent link.

15. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a plurality of bowed springs for supporting the outer member, a lever for each spring rockably carried by the rim member and having the opposite spring and connecting the ends oi the ends of the respective spring secured thereto, outer member supporting springs joining the opposing ends oit adjacent levers, a plurality of bearing members alternately arranged with the levers, a link pivoted to each bearing member for swinging, a link connected to each end oil' the levers, a resilient connection between the links of each lever, and means connecting each second link to the adjacent lirst link.

16. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a circumferential series of outwardly bowed springs for supporting the outer member, means liexibly connecting the opposing ends of adjacent springs and supporting them from the rim member, and other springs alternating with the bowed springs and carried by the aforesaid means for supporting the outer member intermediate the points of support aiiorded by the bowed springs.

17. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a circumferential series oi outwardly bowed springs for supporting the outer member, means iexibly connecting the opposing ends of adjacent springs and supporting them from the rim member, and other bowed springs alternating with the first springs and each comprising a central bowed portion affording a support for the outer member substantially the intervening distance between the adjacent first springs, and said central bowed portion having its ends extended inwardly and under itself and connected to said means.

18. A tire comprising a rim member, an encircling outer member, a circumferential series of outwardly bowed springs for supporting the outer member, means flexibly connecting the opposing ends of adjacent springs and supporting them from the rim member', Vother bowed springs alternating with the iirst springs and each comprising a central bowed portion affording a support for the outer member substantially lthe intervening distance between the adjacent first springs, and said central bowed portion having its ends extended inwardly and under itself and connected to said means, and a third series oit' bowed springs one arranged withineach second bowed spring and having -f-Copies of this patent may be obtained for lever having its ends flexibly connected to the opposite ends of Vseid lever for supporting the other of said members.

21. A tire comprising e rim member, an encircling outer member, circmnferentially lspaced levers piyoted between their ends on one member, a Vbowed springfor each lever having its ends connected to the opposite ends of said lever for supporting the other of'snid members, a link pivoted to each end of the levers, and e second bowed spring for each lever pivotedV to the links et the opposite ends thereof.V

22. A, tire comprising e rim member, en encircling outer member, elrcumferentielly spaced levers pivoted between their ends on one member, a bowed spring,` for each lever having' its ends Connected to the opposite ends of seid lever for supporting the other of said members, a link pivoted to euch end of the levers, and at spring arranged within each bowed spring and having its ends connected to the links carried by the respective lever for supporting smid other member.

1n testimony whereof I ntlix my si gnature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. EAKENS. litnesses V. T. h/IIDDLETON, W. H. Diciis.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

